UKIP’S claim that they have replaced the Lib Dems as the “third force” in British politics received a boost yesterday when a poll showed the anti-EU party is backed by more than one in eight voters.

The survey gave Ukip a record 13 per cent approval rating, four points ahead of Nick Clegg’s Lib Dems, who were on nine per cent, up one since last month.

Labour leads with 38 per cent support, down one, while the Tories dropped three to 29 per cent, the Opinium Research survey revealed Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “We are delighted with our steady progress in opinion polls – and that we are outperforming the Lib Dems across the board.

Are we the third party? It is certainly beginning to look like it

Ukip leader Nigel Farage

“Are we the third party? It is certainly beginning to look like it but that is not why we are here. We are here to change British politics.”

Ukip last week celebrated its best ever by-election performance, coming second with 21.8 per cent of the vote behind Labour in Rotherham, with the Lib Dems finishing eighth.

But Lib Dem president Tim Farron yesterday claimed Ukip were “much more of a worry to the Tory party than they are to us”.